jacob ruppkecht



(No Model.)

Gr. J. RUPPREOHT. TRQUSERS STRBTCHBR. N0. 373,379.

Patented Nov,

lill/lilium" N PETERS, Phnm-Lilhagrnphr, Washington, D. C.

` YUNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

G. JAooB-RUrPREoHT, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y.

TROUSERS-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,379, dated November 15, 1887.

Application filed June 2B, 1887. Serial No. 242,765. (No model.)

To all whom it may` concern:

Beit known that I, G. J AooB RUPPREGHT, a resident of the city, county, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretchers for Shaping the Legs of Pantaloons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying d rawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which y Figure lis a side elevation of a pair of pantaloons suspended for stretching and shaping by means of my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of mystretching and shaping device removed` from the pants, and Fig. 3 a transverse section of the same in line x a: of Fig. 2. A

My invention relates to a device for stretching or restoring to their proper shape pantaloons which have become baggy and ill-setting in wear; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of a sectional stretcher, as is hereinafter fully described,whereby it is adapted to be inserted and expanded in the lower. end of each leg of the pantaloons,to impart a proper form and set thereto, and to serve by its weight to extend the leg when the pants are suspended vertically for the purpose. In the accompanying drawings, A A represent the two sections or divisions of my improved stretcher, cach made of a hollow shell or casting, the one in the form required for the rear portion of the bottom of the pants-leg and the other for the front portion thereof. The outer surface of each section is preferably armed with a series of fine teeth or serrations, s s s, having a downward inclination, as illustrated in Fig. 2,whose function it is to engage the cloth of the pants when inserted therein,and thereby prevent the stretcher from slipping out by its weight when the pants are hung up to. be stretched.

The two sections A A are coupled together, with their convex faces outward, by means of two similarrods or shafts, B and B', each fitted ,centrally with a toothed wheel, C, and each threaded at one end to form a right-hand screw and at the other a left-hand screw. These threaded ends of each shaft are made to enter rand work, respectively, into threaded seats formed in suitable offsets, D D, projecting inwardly fromthe shell of each section midway between the sides and near to the ends thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and which are braced at'their outer ends by transverse bars E E. Preferably, and for the sake of neatness in appearance, these offsets or screw-seats D D are cylindrical in form, and, in common with the brace-bars E E, may bc formed or cast integrally with the outer shell of the section, although they admit of being formed separately and being riveted or otherwise fixed thereto. By turning the rods B B in the one direction the two divisions of the stretcher will be forced apart, and in the other direction they will be drawn together through the operation of the right-andleft screws.

The simultaneous rotation of the two transverse rods B B is effected by means of a longitudinal screw, F, mounted in suitable bearings, G G, to rotate at a right angle to the shafts B B and engage the toothed wheels C C on said shafts and form a wormgear therewith, this screw F being made long enough to project beyond the lower end of the stretcher and fitted with a crossbar or hand-wheel, H, to facilitate turning it.

The stretcher thus simply constructed of the two shells or divisions A A, fitted with the two transverse coupling-shafts B B', actuated by the longitudinal screw F and enga-ging the shafts by means of a Worm-gear, is sufficiently heavy to operate,when inserted in the lower ends of the legs of a pair of pantaloons, W, which have been properly suspended from a support at thc waistband, as shown in Fig. l, to draw out any transverse wrinkles or any undue enlargement of the pants at the knees produced in wearing the same.

In the use of the device the two sections of the stretcher are, by the rotation of the screw F in one direction, drawn closely together, to permit of the ready insertion of the stretcher into the bottom of the pants. They are then spread apart by a reverse movement of the screw until they engage the pants closely, the

serrations on their outer faces serving to prevent them from slipping out from the pants when the latter are hung up, while their outward pressure against the pants serves to impart thereto a suitable form and set.

I claim as my invention- The combination, with the two divisions or shells of a stretcher or shaper for pantaloonlegs, of serrations upon the outer surface thereof, a longitudinal screw-shaft supported by and between the divisions, transverse coupling-rods, each terminating at its two ends in right and left screws, internallythreaded oil'- sets formed or itted in each division to receive and engage said screws, and a worin-wheel fitted upon the middle of eaoh transverse eonpling-rod to engage thelongitudinal screw-shaft, whereby the rotation of the shaft will produce a simultaneous rotation of said rods andan expansion of the stretcher to fill the pants-legs and cause the Serrat-ions to take hold thereof, all substantially in the manner and for the pur- 1 5 pose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this sperieation in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

G. JACOB RUPPRECHT.

V t n esses:

A. N. JEsBERA, M. E. FINLEY. 

